Jurgen Klopp gave short shrift to comparisons between West Bromwich Albion and Liverpool’s next opponents in an altogether more consequential encounter.
‘Roma have set-pieces as well but they don’t play only set-pieces,’ Klopp said. ‘Their boys play sometimes on the ground and then you can play football.’
Virgil van Dijk struck a similar tone, admitting the manner of West Brom’s comeback provoked raised voices in the dressing room, but insisted it would be a different story in Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final.
‘They are fighting for their lives so in the end they are very direct, balls into the channel, work hard, trying to get fouls and free-kicks, and we didn’t deal with that how we should have,’ said Van Dijk.